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Maybe Happy Ending was the top winner at the 2025 Tony Awards, winning six awards including best musical, best original score written for the theatre and best book of a musical. Will Aronson and Hue Park were winners in all three categories – with Aronson and Park being among the producers of the musical. Maybe Happy Ending is based on a South Korean one-act musical. The musical follows two life-like helper-bots, who discover each other in Seoul in the late 21st century.
The 78th Annual Tony Awards, hosted for the first time by Cynthia Erivo, were held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Sunday (June 8). The show was broadcast live coast-to-coast on CBS, and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S.
Darren Criss, who was part of the chart-conquering Glee phenomenon and has had such solo successes as A Very Darren Crissmas, won two Tonys for Maybe Happy Ending – best actor in a leading role in a musical and as one of the producers of the show. The versatile performer won a Primetime Emmy for his role as spree killer Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (2018).
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Nicole Scherzinger, who had four top 10 hits on the Hot 100 with The Pussycat Dolls, won best actress in a musical for Sunset Blvd. Glenn Close won in the same category for the original production in 1995.
Scherzinger beat Audra McDonald for a revival of Gypsy. McDonald has won more Tonys than any other performer (six), but has now lost in her last three nominations – for Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (2020), Ohio State Murders (2023) and now Gypsy.
Trailing Maybe Happy Ending on the list of shows with the most awards were: Buena Vista Social Club with four awards; Sunset Blvd. and Stranger Things: The First Shadow, with three; and Purpose, The Picture of Dorian Gray and Oh, Mary! with two each.
The productions that experienced the biggest shut-outs, going home empty-handed, were: Dead Outlaw, John Proctor Is the Villain and The Hills of California, each of went 0-7 on the night, and Floyd Collins and Just in Time, each of went 0-6; and English, Good Night, and Good Luck and Gypsy, each of went 0-5.
Sunset Blvd. also won best revival of a musical (beating Gypsy, among others). The original production won best musical in 1995. Greg Berlanti is among the producers of the revival.
Buena Vista Social Club features music recorded by Buena Vista Social Club. The musical is set in Havana, Cuba and follows the lives of four musicians, and their eventual collaboration in 1997 on the landmark album Buena Vista Social Club. The music in the show is presented entirely in Spanish. The original album was inducted into the National Recording Registry in 2022 and the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2024. This musical is based on a 1999 documentary about the making of the album that received an Oscar nod for documentary (feature).
Several people won for their Broadway debuts, including Sarah Snook, best performance by an actress in a leading role in play for The Picture of Dorian Gray; Jak Malone, best performance by an actor in a featured role in a musical for Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical; and George Reeve, best scenic design of a musical for Maybe Happy Ending.
Snook won a Primetime Emmy in 2023, outstanding lead actress in a drama series for her role as Shiv Roy in HBO Max’s Succession.
Paul Tazewell won best costume design of a musical for his work on Death Becomes Her. Tazewell won an Oscar earlier this year for best costume design for Wicked. “A Black queer boy from Canton, Ohio had no idea that in 2025 he would have the year he has had,” Tazewell said in a accepting his Tony.
Cole Escola won best performance by an actor in a leading role in a play for playing Mary Todd Lincoln in Oh, Mary! Julie Harris won best actress in a leading role in a play in 1973 for playing the former first lady in The Last of Mrs. Lincoln.
Kara Young won best performance by an actress in a featured role in a play for Purpose. She won in that category last year for Purlie Victorious. She’s the second actress to win two years running in that category. The first was Judith Light in 2012-13 for Other Desert Cities and The Assembled Parties. Moreover, she’s the first Black actor to win back-to-back Tonys in any category.
Erivo and Sara Bareilles sang “Tomorrow” from Annie over the In Memoriam segment. It was an apt choice, as that song’s composer, Charles Strouse, died in May. Also in the spot: actors including Richard Chamberlain, Linda Lavin, Jean Marsh, Gavin Creel and James Earl Jones and producer Quincy Jones.
Here’s the full list of 2025 Tony nominations, with winners marked:
Best Musical
Buena Vista Social Club – Producers: Orin Wolf, John Styles, Jr., Barbara Broccoli, Atlantic Theater Company, Viajes Miranda, LaChanze, David Yazbek, John Leguizamo, David F. Schwartz, Zak Kilberg, J. Todd Harris, Cabo Productions, Roy Furman, Hannah Rosenthal, Jamie deRoy/Marvin Rosen, Grove • REG & Frank Marshall, F.K.R.J. Productions, Patrick Milling-Smith/Brian Carmody, DJ Stage Productions, Palitz Wiesenfeld Productions, Richard & Roberta Shaker, Front Row Productions, Cathy Dantchik, Brooke & Brian Devine, Gilad Rogowsky, MacPac Entertainment, No Guarantees Productions, Rhythm & Rain Productions, Hadley Schnuck, James Francis Trezza, Yonge Street Theatricals, Patrick Daly, Olympus Theatricals/Firemused Productions, Ioana Alfonso/Eric Stine, William Berlind/W.M. Klausner, Creative Endeavor Office/Untitled Theatricals, Ruth Hendel/The Kaplans, Pam Hurst-Della Pietra/Philip Van Dijk, Debbie Ohanian/Stone Arch Theatricals, Composite Capital Partners, Larry Levien, Matt Murphy, Marc Platt, Sandy Robertson, Iris Smith, Thomas Steven Perakos/Douglas A. Fellman, Brad Blume/The Klaes’, Ankit Agrawal/Constance Cincotta, Independent Presenters Network, Nick & Nicky Gold, HoriPro Inc., Playful Productions UK, The Shubert Organization, Frederick Zollo, John Gore Organization, Nederlander Presentations Inc., Marco Ramirez, Allan Williams
Dead Outlaw – Producers: Lia Vollack Productions, Sonia Friedman Productions, Roy Furman, Ken & Janet Schur, Cue to Cue Productions, James Bolosh/Hillary Wyatt, Carl Moellenberg/Ricardo Hornos, Carl & Jennifer Pasbjerg/H2H Concord Theatricals, Masquerade Partners, Douglas Denoff, John Gore Organization, GFour Productions, Brian Hedden, KFRJ Productions, Lang Entertainment Group, James L. Nederlander, Marvin Rosen, Stanely S. Shuman, James L. Walker, Jr., Winkler & Smalberg, 42nd.club/Aligned Theatricals, Craig Balsam/Richard Batchelder, Jane Bergère/Willette and Manny Klausner, The Broadway Investor’s Club/Eastern Standard Time, Barbara Chiodo/Adam Cohen, Merrie L. Davis/Tony Spinosa, Noah Eisenberg/Sue Drew, Robin Gorman Newman/Laurence Padgett Productions, LLPR Productions/Patinogal, Mary Maggio/Janet Rosen, Thomas Swayne, Lawryn LaCroix, Audible
Death Becomes Her – Producers: Universal Theatrical Group, James L. Nederlander, Steven Spielberg & Kate Capshaw, Jason Blum & James Wan, Debra Martin Chase, John Gore Organization, Marc Platt, Lowe Cunningham, Marcia Goldberg
WINNER: Maybe Happy Ending – Producers: Jeffrey Richards, Hunter Arnold, Darren Criss, Dr. Pam Hurst-Della Pietra & Stephen Della Pietra, NHN Link Corporation, Greg & Lisa Love, Kayla Greenspan, Jayne Baron Sherman, Louise Gund, Spencer Ross, Yonge Street Theatricals, Ruth Hendel, Kaplan-Gopal-MMC, Adam Zotovich, At Rise Creative, Broadway Strategic Return Fund, Curt Cronin, Fahs Productions, Greg Field, Paul Gavriani/Michael Patrick, Rebecca Gold, Grace Street Creative Group, John Gore Organization, Willette & Manny Klausner, Kent Knudsen, James L. Nederlander, Salmira Productions, The Shubert Organization, Jacob Stuckelman & John Albert Harris, Wooran Foundation, You Should Smile More Productions, Mark and David Golub Productions, Diego Kolankowsky, Takonkiet Viravan, Brad Blume, Will Aronson & Hue Park, Hugo Six, Clarissa Cueva, Ali Daylami, Maia Kayla Glasman, Patrick W. Jones, Brandon J. Schwartz, Allan Williams
Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical – Producers: Avalon, SpitLip, Jon Thoday, Richard Allen-Turner, Bryan McCaffrey, Walport Productions, LeftNoRing Productions, Barbara Chiodo, Feuille Dooley North Productions, The Shubert Organization, Ken Davenport, Steve & Paula Reynolds, Concord Theatricals, Byron Grote & Susan Miller, John Gore Organization, M. Kilburg Reedy, Sony Music Entertainment, You Should Smile More Productions, Tom Smedes & Peter Stern, Judith Ann Abrams Productions/The Broadway Investor’s Club, Lang Entertainment Group, Alli Folk/Evelyn Hoffman & Gregory Stern, Nick Flatto/Evan & Claudia Caplan Reynolds, Larry Hirschhorn & Ricardo Hornos/Carl & Jennifer Pasbjerg, Independent Presenters Network/Lloyd Tichio Productions, Kendall Kellaway III/Megan Minutillo, Blume Johnson Rubin & Silver, Russell Citron, The Council, Jamie deRoy & Brian Rooney/Corey Brunish & Matthew P. Hui, Dodge Hall Productions, 42nd.club, IJB Productions, Mickey Liddell & Pete Shilaimon, Stephanie P. McClelland, James L. Simon, Mark Weinstein, Adam Cohen/Nick Padgett, Vibecke Dahle Dellapolla/Lynnette Barkley, Willette & Manny Klausner/Elizabeth Faulkner Salem, Michael Page/Burnt Umber Productions, Wallace-Phoebe/Laurie Oki & Alexander Oki, Margot Astrachan/TT Partners, Andrew Fell
Best Revival of a Musical
Floyd Collins – Book/Additional Lyrics: Tina Landau; Music & Lyrics: Adam Guettel; Producers: Lincoln Center Theater, André Bishop, Adam Siegel, Naomi Grabel, Ira Weitzman, Creative Partners Productions, Mark Cortale & Charles D. Urstadt
Gypsy – Producers: Tom Kirdahy, Mara Isaacs, Kevin Ryan, Diane Scott Carter, Wendy Federman & Heni Koenigsberg, Roy Furman, Viajes Miranda, Kerry Washington, Peter May, Thomas M. Neff, Cynthia J. Tong, Adam Hyndman, A Perfect Team Productions, Cue to Cue Productions, Da Silva Stone, DMQR Productions, Grant Spark Productions, Marguerite Steed Hoffman, KarmaHendelMcCabe, James L. Nederlander, Janet and Marvin Rosen, Archer Entertainment, Dale Franzen, 42nd.club, Rob Acton, All That JJAS, Mike Audet, Patty Baker, Cohen Soto, Concord Theatricals, Creative Partners Productions, Crumhale Taylor Productions, Ken Davenport, DJD Productions, Flipswitch Entertainment, Frankly Spoken Productions, Roy Gabay, Happy Recap Productions, Sandra and Howard Hoffen, John Gore Organization, Johnson Maggio Productions, Willette and Manny Klausner, Kors Le Pere Theatricals, LaCroix Eisenberg, David Lai, Little Lamb Productions, Bill and Sally Martin, Mohari Media, No Guarantees Productions, Pam Hurst-Della Pietra and Stephen Della Pietra, Regian Davison, Lamar Richardson, Patti and Michael Roberts, RTK Rose, Score 3 Partners, Silva Theatrical Group, Some People, Stone Arch Theatricals, Storyboard Entertainment LE, Mary and Jay Sullivan, The Adams Hendel Group, The Array VI, The Broadway Investor’s Club, Theatre Producers of Color, Tom Tuft, TreAmici Gooding, Waiting in the Wings Productions, Whitney Williams, Sara Beth Zivitz, Jamila Ponton Bragg, The Industry Standard Group
Pirates! The Penzance Musical – Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Scott Ellis, Sydney Beers, Christopher Nave, Steven Showalter, James L. Nederlander, Fran and Paul Turner, ATG Productions/Gavin Kalin Productions
WINNER: Sunset Blvd. – Producers: The Jamie Lloyd Company, ATG Productions, Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, Gavin Kalin Productions, Wessex Grove, Christopher Ketner, Aleri Entertainment, Sonia Friedman, Roth-Manella Productions, Winkler Smalberg, Caitlin Clements, 42nd.club, Abrams Johnson, Aron on Broadway, The Array V, At Rise Creative, Bad Robot Live, Craig Balsam, Greg Berlanti, Boardman Cannova Productions, Bob Boyett, Burnt Umber Productions, Patrick Catullo, Crane McGill Trunfio, Core Four Productions, Nicole Eisenberg, The Factor Gavin Partnership, Federman Jenen Koenigsberg, Forshaw Turchin, John Gore, Jake Hine, LAMF Secret Hideout, Jack Lane, Lang Entertainment Group, Lelli Armstrong, Alex Levy, Luftig Reade St. Kawana, Mary Maggio, Jay Marcus, Stephanie P. McClelland, James L. Nederlander, No Guarantees Productions, P3 Productions, Thomas Steven Perakos, Pam Hurst-Della Pietra, Shari Redstone, Regian Davison Buckman, Sand & Snow Entertainment, SBK Productions, The Shubert Organization, Smedes Stern Productions, Tilted, Willowrow Entertainment, WMKlausner
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
WINNER: Darren Criss, Maybe Happy Ending
Andrew Durand, Dead Outlaw
Tom Francis, Sunset Blvd.
Jonathan Groff, Just in Time
James Monroe Iglehart, A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical
Jeremy Jordan, Floyd Collins
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Megan Hilty, Death Becomes Her
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Jasmine Amy Rogers, BOOP! The Musical
WINNER: Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Blvd.
Jennifer Simard, Death Becomes Her
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Brooks Ashmanskas, SMASH
Jeb Brown, Dead Outlaw
Danny Burstein, Gypsy
WINNER: Jak Malone, Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical
Taylor Trensch, Floyd Collins
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
WINNER: Natalie Venetia Belcon, Buena Vista Social Club
Julia Knitel, Dead Outlaw
Gracie Lawrence, Just in Time
Justina Machado, Real Women Have Curves: The Musical
Joy Woods, Gypsy
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Dead Outlaw, Music & Lyrics: David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna
Death Becomes Her, Music & Lyrics: Julia Mattison and Noel Carey
WINNER: Maybe Happy Ending, Music: Will Aronson; Lyrics: Will Aronson and Hue Park
Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical, Music & Lyrics: David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts
Real Women Have Curves: The Musical, Music & Lyrics: Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez
Best Book of a Musical
Buena Vista Social Club, Marco Ramirez
Dead Outlaw, Itamar Moses
Death Becomes Her, Marco Pennette
WINNER: Maybe Happy Ending, Will Aronson and Hue Park
Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical, David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts
Best Direction of a Musical
Saheem Ali, Buena Vista Social Club
WINNER: Michael Arden, Maybe Happy Ending
David Cromer, Dead Outlaw
Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her
Jamie Lloyd, Sunset Blvd.
Best Choreography
Joshua Bergasse, SMASH
Camille A. Brown, Gypsy
Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her
Jerry Mitchell, BOOP! The Musical
WINNER: Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck, Buena Vista Social Club
Best Orchestrations
Andrew Resnick and Michael Thurber, Just in Time
Will Aronson, Maybe Happy Ending
Bruce Coughlin, Floyd Collins
WINNER: Marco Paguia, Buena Vista Social Club
David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sunset Blvd.
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Rachel Hauck, Swept Away
WINNER: Dane Laffrey and George Reeve, Maybe Happy Ending
Arnulfo Maldonado, Buena Vista Social Club
Derek McLane, Death Becomes Her
Derek McLane, Just in Time
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Dede Ayite, Buena Vista Social Club
Gregg Barnes, BOOP! The Musical
Clint Ramos, Maybe Happy Ending
WINNER: Paul Tazewell, Death Becomes Her
Catherine Zuber, Just in Time
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
WINNER: Jack Knowles, Sunset Blvd.
Tyler Micoleau, Buena Vista Social Club
Scott Zielinski and Ruey Horng Sun, Floyd Collins
Ben Stanton, Maybe Happy Ending
Justin Townsend, Death Becomes Her
Best Sound Design of a Musical
WINNER: Jonathan Deans, Buena Vista Social Club
Adam Fisher, Sunset Blvd.
Peter Hylenski, Just in Time
Peter Hylenski, Maybe Happy Ending
Dan Moses Schreier, Floyd Collins
Best Play
English – Author: Sanaz Toossi; Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Scott Ellis, Sydney Beers, Christopher Nave, Steven Showalter, Atlantic Theater Company
The Hills of California – Author: Jez Butterworth; Producers: Sonia Friedman Productions, No Guarantees Productions, Neal Street Productions, Brian Spector, Sand & Snow Entertainment, Stephanie P. McClelland, Barry Diller, Reade St. Productions, Van Dean, Andrew Paradis/We R Broadway Artists Alliance, Patty Baker, Wendy Bingham Cox, Bob Boyett, Butcher Brothers, Caitlin Clements, Kallish Weinstein Creative, Michael Scott, Steven Toll & Randy Jones Toll, City Cowboy Productions/Jamie deRoy, JKVL Productions/Padgett Ross Productions, Koenigsberg Riley/Tulchin Bartner Productions, Todd B. Rubin/Carlos Medina, Silly Bears Productions/Omara Productions, Michael Wolk/Cali e Amici, Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, Chris Jennings
John Proctor is the Villain – Author: Kimberly Belflower;Producers: Sue Wagner, John Johnson, John Mara, Jr., Runyonland, Eric Falkenstein, Jillian Robbins, Jen Hoguet, Rialto Productions, Corets Gough Kench Cohen, The Shubert Organization, James L. Nederlander, John Gore Organization, Patty Baker, Cue to Cue Productions, Echo Lake Entertainment, Harris Rubin Productions, Klausner & Zell, Jennifer Kroman, Mickey Liddell & Pete Shilaimon, Mahnster Productions, Nathan Winoto, The Cohn Sisters & Stifelman-Burkhardt, Astro Lab Productions, Creative Partners Productions, Sarah Daniels & Christopher Barrett, Frimmer & Benmosche, Joan Rechnitz, Melissa Chamberlain & Michael McCartney, Pam Hurst-Della Pietra & Stephen Della Pietra, McCaffrey & Demar, Alan & Peggy Mendelson, Newport & Smerigan, Jamie deRoy, Jaime Gleicher, Wes Grantom, Meena Harris & Jessica Foung, Los Angeles Media Fund, Corey Steinfast, SunnySpot & Valentine, Turchin Clements, Jane Bergère & Douglas Denoff, Amy Wen & Meister Leonard, 7th Inning Stretch & Stella La Rue, Indie Slingshot, Annaleise Loxton
Oh, Mary! – Author: Cole Escola; Producers: Kevin McCollum & Lucas McMahon, Mike Lavoie & Carlee Briglia, Bob Boyett, The Council, Jean Doumanian Productions, Nicole Eisenberg, Jay Marcus & George Strus, Irony Point, Richard Batchelder/Bradley Reynolds, Tyler Mount/Tommy Doyle, Nelson & Tao, Palomares & Rosenberg, ShowTown Productions
WINNER: Purpose – Author: Branden Jacobs-Jenkins; Producers: David Stone, Debra Martin Chase, Marc Platt, LaChanze, Rashad V. Chambers, Aaron Glick, Universal Theatrical Group, Eastern Standard Time, Trate Productions, Nancy Nagel Gibbs, James L. Nederlander, John Gore, ATG Entertainment, The Shubert Organization, Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Best Revival of a Play
WINNER: Eureka Day – Author: Jonathan Spector; Producers: Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, Chris Jennings
Romeo + Juliet – Producers: Seaview, Harbor Entertainment, Kevin Ryan, Eric & Marsi Gardiner, Roth-Manella Productions, Kate Cannova, J + J Productions, Julie Boardman, Alexander-Taylor Deignan, Atekwana Hutton, Bensmihen Mann Productions, Patrick Catullo, Chutzpah Productions, Corets Gough Willman Productions, Dave Johnson Productions, DJD Productions, Hornos Moellenberg, Pam Hurst-Della Pietra & Stephen Della Pietra, Mark Gordon Pictures, Oren Michels, No Guarantees Productions, Nothing Ventured Productions, Strus Lynch, Sunset Cruz Productions, Dennis Trunfio, Stephen C. Byrd, Fourth Wall Theatricals, Level Forward, Soto Productions, WMKlausner
Thornton Wilder’s Our Town – Producers: Jeffrey Richards, Samsational Entertainment, Louise Gund, Eric Falkenstein, Suzanne Grant, Patty Baker, Daryl Roth/Tom Tuft, Ronald Frankel, Rebecca Gold, Gabrielle Palitz, Brunish-Rooney-Hui/Laura Little, Thom and Karen Lauzon, Pamela Hurst-Della Pietra & Stephen Della Pietra, Score 3 Partners, Secret Hideout, David S. Stone, Craig Balsam, John Gore Organization, Caiola Productions, Concord Theatricals, Melissa & Bradford Coolidge, Irene Gandy, Kenny Leon, Willette & Manny Klausner, Andrew Marderian-Davis, Ellen Susman, Leslie Rainbolt, Randy Jones Toll & Steven Toll, James S. Levine, Hank & Kara Steinberg, Alexander “Sandy” Marshall, Ken & Rande Greiner/David Schwartz & Trudy Zohn, Patrick W. Jones, Maia Kayla Glasman, Brandon J. Schwartz, The Shubert Organization
Yellow Face – Author: David Henry Hwang; Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Scott Ellis, Sydney Beers, Christopher Nave, Steven Showalter
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck
WINNER: Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Jon Michael Hill, Purpose
Daniel Dae Kim, Yellow Face
Harry Lennix, Purpose
Louis McCartney, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Laura Donnelly, The Hills of California
Mia Farrow, The Roommate
LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Purpose
Sadie Sink, John Proctor is the Villain
WINNER: Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Glenn Davis, Purpose
Gabriel Ebert, John Proctor is the Villain
WINNER: Francis Jue, Yellow Face
Bob Odenkirk, Glengarry Glen Ross
Conrad Ricamora, Oh, Mary!
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Tala Ashe, English
Jessica Hecht, Eureka Day
Marjan Neshat, English
Fina Strazza, John Proctor is the Villain
WINNER: Kara Young, Purpose
Best Direction of a Play
Knud Adams, English
Sam Mendes, The Hills of California
WINNER: Sam Pinkleton, Oh, Mary!
Danya Taymor, John Proctor is the Villain
Kip Williams, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Marsha Ginsberg, English
Rob Howell, The Hills of California
Marg Horwell and David Bergman, The Picture of Dorian Gray
WINNER: Miriam Buether and 59, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Scott Pask, Good Night, and Good Luck
Best Costume Design of a Play
Brenda Abbandandolo, Good Night, and Good Luck
WINNER: Marg Horwell, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Rob Howell, The Hills of California
Holly Pierson, Oh, Mary!
Brigitte Reiffenstuel, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Natasha Chivers, The Hills of California
WINNER: Jon Clark, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Heather Gilbert and David Bengali, Good Night, and Good Luck
Natasha Katz and Hannah Wasileski, John Proctor is the Villain
Nick Schlieper, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Best Sound Design of a Play
WINNER: Paul Arditti, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Palmer Hefferan, John Proctor is the Villain
Daniel Kluger, Good Night, and Good Luck
Nick Powell, The Hills of California
Clemence Williams, The Picture of Dorian Gray
One thing is to go to a Shakira concert. Another is to walk with her as part of her “Loba Pack.” It’s a whole other level.
On Friday (June 6) morning, I received a call from Sony Music US Latin’s publicity associate director. I usually don’t answer phone calls, but I was curious because it’s rare for him to call me too.
After a quick “good morning, how are you?” he cut to the chase with what literally felt like he was popping the big question: “Jess, if I get you a spot to walk with Shakira at her concert tomorrow, would you?”
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I gasped and without hesitation said “YES!” After we hung up, I smiled, and for some reason—though I’ve had a very fruitful and successful career in Latin music—thought “omg, I finally made it.”
Just hours before Shakira was set to perform her second sold-out stadium in Miami on Saturday (June 7), I received an email titled “Camina con la loba” (walk with the she wolf) with further instructions—arrival time, meeting location, point of contact, and a consent waiver to be filmed.
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Once at the Hard Rock Stadium, I was unexpectedly escorted to a VIP suite, where drinks and bites were provided. Then, at around 7:50 p.m., they took me backstage to meet up with the rest of the crew that was going to walk with Shakira. Among the “loba pack” were social media influencer Jessica Judith, Miss Universe Nicaragua 2018 Adriana Paniagua, and TV personality Clarissa Molina. Yours truly from Billboard, and select Univision and Telemundo reporters were also in the mix.
While we waited for our big moment to shine, we were handed raincoats in an aluminum foil material and futuristic sunglasses. It was also your typical 100-degree weather in Miami, but every drop of sweat, humidity, and drenched makeup was worth it—especially because the “loba pack” kept singing Shakira songs while we waited.
At 9:15 p.m., the Colombian artist showed up in a golf cart wearing a sparkly jumpsuit. She hopped off, briefly greeted her unit of empowered wolves, and we all got into position for showtime.
Around 50 people walked with the artist into the packed stadium. We were jumping, we were ecstatic, we were high-fiving people in the audience, we were capturing the moment on our phones. With all the attitude and energy in the world, the “loba pack” dropped off Shakira at the stage, where she officially kicked off with the magnetic, club-ready track “La Fuerte.”
We continued to enjoy the first song from the aisles, before walking to our seats. Once at my spot, I was in complete awe of Shak’s two-hour-long spectacle, where she sang the hits, the oldies, had surprise guests Manuel Turizo, Alejandro Sanz, and Bizarrap, but above all, captivated fans with her hips that don’t lie—literally.
Undeniably, Shakira is Shakira, but now, as a certified “loba” (and thanks to this wonderful concert experience), there’s no doubt in my mind why she ranked No. 1 on Billboard’s “Female Latin Pop Artists of All Time” list.
The Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran tour will continue June 11 in Texas and wrap June 30 in California.
Check out best pics from the 78th annual Tonys.
The BRIT Awards will move to Manchester in 2026 and 2027, marking the first time the ceremony has taken place outside of London in its nearly-50 year history.
Co-op Live, the venue operated by Oak View Group, will host the event on Feb. 28, 2026 and be broadcast live on ITV 1 and ITV X; 2027’s date is yet to be confirmed.
The 2025 event was held in March at The O2 Arena in London, the ceremony’s home since 2012. The BRITs has been held at various venues in the capital including Earl’s Court (1996-2011), Alexandra Palace (1993-1995) and The Grosvenor Hotel (1982-1987).
The first event in 1977 was held at the Wembley Conference Centre, and the BRITs became a yearly occurrence from 1982 onwards; the 2021 event was the first major event to take place in the U.K. following the outbreak of the COVID pandemic a year prior.
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2026 marks the first event of the three-year stewardship under Sony Music U.K.; stewardship rotates between the three major labels, with the BRIT Committee overseeing the show’s creative direction. Damian Christian, the managing director and president of promotions at Atlantic Records, a Warner Music subsidiary, served as the chair of the BRIT Committee from 2022-2025.
“Moving to Manchester, the home of some of the most iconic and defining artists of our lifetime, will invigorate the show and build on the BRITs legacy of celebrating and reinvesting in world-class music,” says Jason Isley MBE, chairman and CEO, Sony Music U.K. & Ireland. “Hosting the show in Manchester, with its vibrant cultural history, perfectly captures the spirit and energy of the BRIT Awards. I can’t wait to see the show at the amazing state-of-the art Co-op Live venue.”
Despite a beleaguered opening which saw delays and cancellation of shows in April 2024, the Co-op Live has since established itself as a key player in the U.K. live music scene. In 2024, the venue hosted the MTV EMAs, and 2025’s live slate includes Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler, The Creator and more. The venue’s 23,500 capacity makes it the largest indoor arena in Europe.
Tim Leiweke, co-founder and CEO of Oak View Group said: “The BRITs are the most important music event in the UK and were always the highlight of the year, not only because of its immense cultural contribution, but because of their commitment to improving the lives of youth through music. It is our honour to partner with our friends at BPI and Sony Music, alongside the great city of Manchester, to host the BRITs at Co-op Live and join in their mission to create opportunities for youth through music.”
The BRIT Awards regularly pulls big name performers, with 2025’s ceremony boasting live performances by Sabrina Carpenter, Lola Young, Teddy Swims and Sam Fender. Charli XCX, meanwhile, collected five awards on the night, including album of the year.
The move follows the relocation of the MOBO Awards in recent years to Coventry (2021) and Sheffield (2024), and the Mercury Prize which is set to be hosted in Newcastle’s Utilita Arena in September 2025.
Sony Music Publishing has acquired Hipgnosis Songs Group, multiple sources confirmed to Billboard. Emails obtained by Billboard under the subject line “Update from Sony Music Publishing” said that the company “has entered into an agreement with Recognition Music Group (‘RMG’) to acquire its subsidiary Hipgnosis Songs Group (‘HSG’), effective immediately.”
Hipgnosis Songs Group is one of the companies considered to be under the umbrella of Recognition Music, formerly known as Hipgnosis — which also included Hipgnosis Songs Fund and Hipgnosis Song Management — and is the subsidiary that has housed Big Deal Music and its administration business since the company acquired Big Deal in 2020.
The HSG catalog includes the 4,400 copyrights originally from Big Deal, including songs recorded by Shawn Mendes, Panic! At the Disco and One Direction. According to HSG’s Instagram page, their repertoire also includes publishing shares of songs like “Taste,” “Espresso” and “Feather” by Sabrina Carpenter; “Ordinary” by Alex Warren; “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims; and many more current hits.
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“With this agreement, Sony Music Publishing now owns and administers the Hipgnosis Songs Group catalog, serving as the full-service publisher for its clients and roster of songwriters globally,” the email to HSG songwriters, composers and clients reads.
The news of this deal arrives just three months after Hipgnosis rebranded under the new name Recognition Music Group, bringing the bundle of related Hipgnosis titles under one name and one roof. As part of that previous news, it was noted that Hipgnosis Songs Group was still under the ownership of Blackstone and that the company said the division was under strategic review. Billboard reported that Recognition was looking to partner with publishers and music companies for the administration of their assets.
Over the years, Hipgnosis has largely driven the movement to treat music as an attractive asset class for Wall Street investors, bidding sky-high prices for catalogs by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Neil Young, Lindsey Buckingham, Blondie, Justin Bieber and Journey, among others. But Hipgnosis Songs Fund, which was publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange since 2018, has had a rocky last few years. By 2023, HSF ultimately left its investors frustrated as its stock price fell and its dividend was cancelled. Eventually, in July 2024, HSF was sold to private equity giant Blackstone for $1.6 billion.
A rep for Recognition Music declined to comment. Reps for Sony Music Publishing did not immediately respond to Billboard’s requests for comment at press time.
The email notes that “over the next few months, we will be transitioning the company to SMP’s services and systems. We are working closely with HSG to ensure that all clients will receive the high level of service that you have come to expect.”
By acquiring hits owned or administered by HSG, Sony Music Publishing — which often ranks as the largest publisher by market share on the Hot 100 and Pop Radio Airplay charts on Billboard’s Publishers Quarterly — has become an even more dominant player in popular music.
Read an excerpt of the email below:
Dear Hipgnosis Songs Group Songwriters, Composers and Clients:
On behalf of Sony Music Publishing (“SMP”), we are pleased to inform you that Sony Music Publishing has entered into an agreement with Recognition Music Group (“RMG”) to acquire its subsidiary Hipgnosis Songs Group (“HSG”), effective immediately.
With this agreement, Sony Music Publishing now owns and administers the Hipgnosis Songs Group catalog, serving as the full-service publisher for its clients and roster of songwriters globally.
With a unique roster of contemporary songwriters and timeless classics, HSG aligns with SMP’s mission to elevate and support the work of the world’s most impactful songwriters, and we are honored to represent you and your songs.
Over the next few months, we will be transitioning the company to SMP’s services and systems. We are working closely with HSG to ensure that all clients will receive the high level of service that you have come to expect. No further action is required from you at this time.
In the meantime, your current HSG team remains available to address questions or creative inquiries. You can also reach HSG at HSGcreativeteam@hipgnosissongs.com. For the time being, your royalty payments will continue to be processed and distributed through HSG’s system and your current account access remains unchanged. We will reach out to you directly with important transition updates as they come.
Thank you. We look forward to working with you in this next chapter.
Sincerely,
The Sony Music Publishing Team
Khaby Lame, the most-followed personality on the popular TikTok social media platform, was detained by ICE officials at the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, last Friday (June 6). According to ICE, Khaby Lame has since left the United States and has not made any public statements regarding the stop by the agency, and a MAGA influencer is claiming credit.
In a report from the AFP, Khaby Lame, 25, was detained by ICE at the airport, with officials citing immigration violation for the stop.
“US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Seringe Khabane Lame, 25, a citizen of Italy, June 6, at the Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada for immigration violations,” according to a statement that spokespeople for ICE gave to the AFP.
Khaby Lame catapulted to fame on TikTok for his silent videos and trademark palms-up gesture at the camera, garnering Lame 16.2 million followers on the TikTok platform. Lame has also leveraged his TikTok fame to establish brand deals outside the platform.
Bo Loundon, a rising MAGA influencer whose feed is replete with attacks on anyone that he perceives as a threat to President Donald Trump’s vision of America, claimed that he has worked alongside the Department of Homeland Security to have Lame detained.
“BREAKING: Far-left ILLEGAL ALIEN TikToker Khaby Lame was just ARRESTED and is now in ICE custody under President Trump,” Loudon tweeted on Friday. “I discovered he was an illegal who overstayed an invalid VISA, evaded taxes, and I personally took action to have him deported. No one is above the law!”
Loudon also shared an X post sharing a similar statement to the one given to the AFP. However, it does not confirm an arrest, and Lame was granted voluntary departure on June 6. It does appear that Loudon’s claim of an arrest was largely exaggerated. We also searched ICE’s arrest database, and it did not turn up any results on Lame.
On X, the reactions to Khaby Lame’s arrest and Bo Loudon’s alleged involvement, with some users calling Loudon’s claims false, have turned up. We’ve got them listed below.
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Photo: Getty
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Mariah Carey‘s “Type Dangerous” tops this week’s new music poll. In a poll published Friday (June 6) on Billboard, music fans chose the superstar singer’s latest single as their favorite new release of the week. The confident, percussion-heavy track pulled in nearly 70% of the vote, outpacing new music from Sabrina Carpenter (“Manchild”), Ed Sheeran […]
Day three of CMA Fest’s nighttime concert series at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium started right on time at 8 p.m. on Saturday (June 7), following a rain delay the night before. This time, there were clear, but slightly cloudy Nashville skies, with no rain in sight as another round of top artists took to the stage. […]
Wayne Lewis, a founding member of the R&B group Atlantic Starr, has died at the age of 68.
The band confirmed his passing in a social media post on Friday (June 7), noting that the musician died on Thursday. No cause of death has been disclosed.
“It’s with great sadness we have to post the passing of Wayne Lewis on June 5, 2025,” Atlantic Starr wrote on Facebook. “Please keep the family in your prayers and respect their privacy #waynelewis #restinpeace #flyhigh Sunrise 4/13/1957 Sunset 6/5/2025 #restinpeaceWayne.”
Lewis served as a vocalist and keyboardist for Atlantic Starr, which he co-founded in 1976 in White Plains, N.Y., alongside his brothers David Lewis (vocals, guitar) and Jonathan Lewis (keyboards, trombone), as well as drummer Porter Carroll Jr., bassist Clifford Archer and percussionist-flutist Joseph Phillips.
Other early members included lead singer Sharon Bryant, trumpeter William Sudderth III and saxophonist Damon Rentie. Bryant and Rentie were later replaced by Barbara Weathers and Koran Daniels, respectively.
Atlantic Starr became a fixture in R&B throughout the late 1970s and 1980s. The group signed with A&M Records (and later to Warner Bros. Records, among other labels), releasing their self-titled debut album in 1978, followed by their sophomore effort, Straight to the Point, the next year.
The band achieved its first top 10 hit on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart with “Circles” (No. 2) from the 1982 album Brilliance. Their biggest commercial success came in 1987 when “Always,” from 1986’s All in the Name of Love, reached No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
Atlantic Starr earned a total of three top 10 hits on the Hot 100 and 11 top 10s on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. “My First Love” in 1989 was their only other No. 1 on the latter chart.
In recent years, Atlantic Starr continued to perform with Lewis and current members Jonathan Lewis, Melessa Pierce and Shammah Carter. The group’s most recent album, Metamorphosis, was released in 2017.
Following the announcement of Lewis’ death, fans flooded social media with heartfelt tributes and condolences.
“His band gave my generation so much listening pleasure,” one fan wrote. Another shared, “Nooooo I am devastated seeing this. My condolences to all family and friends.” A third commenter added, “A great songwriter. Atlantic Starr was better once he became leader. He will be missed.”
Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem is No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated June 14) for a third consecutive week, following its debut atop the list dated May 31. It earned 246,000 equivalent album units in the United States in the week ending June 5 (down 14%), according to Luminate. It’s the largest third week for an album in over a year, since Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department earned 282,000 in its third frame (May 18, 2024-dated chart).
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Also in the top 10 of the latest Billboard 200, new albums from SEVENTEEN and Miley Cyrus debut, while Swift’s chart-topping reputation, released in 2017, returns, zooming 78-5. The latter benefits from an outpouring of fan support following the news that Swift had acquired her Big Machine Records catalog, inclusive of reputation.
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The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new June 14, 2025-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on June 10. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
Of I’m the Problem’s 246,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending June 5, SEA units comprise 229,000 (down 11%, equaling 298.41 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs — it leads Top Streaming Albums for a third week), album sales comprise 15,500 (down 45% — it falls from No. 1 to No. 3 on Top Album Sales) and TEA units comprise 1,500 (down 17%).
At No. 2 on the Billboard 200, SEVENTEEN scores their seventh top 10-charting album, as SEVENTEEN 5th Album HAPPY BURSTDAY debuts. The set launches with 48,500 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, album sales comprise 46,000 (it debuts at No. 1 on Top Album Sales), SEA units comprise 2,500 (equaling 3.26 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum. The set’s album sales were aided by its availability across 14 CD variants, all containing collectible paper ephemera, some randomized.
SZA’s chart-topping SOS falls 2-3 on the Billboard 200 with 46,000 equivalent album units earned (down 3%).
Miley Cyrus achieves her 15th top 10-charting set on the Billboard 200 as Something Beautiful bows at No. 4. It starts with 44,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, album sales comprise 27,000 (it debuts at No. 2 on Top Album Sales), SEA units comprise 17,000 (equaling 22.18 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum. (Cyrus’ tally of 15 top 10s is inclusive of her albums billed to her Disney Channel character Hannah Montana.)
Something Beautiful’s first-week sales were bolstered by its availability across six vinyl variants (including one signed, sold in Cyrus’ webstore), a standard CD, a signed CD (exclusive to Cyrus’ webstore) and two deluxe CD boxed sets (sold via her webstore, each containing branded merch and a copy of the album).
The album was preceded by the Billboard Hot 100-charting song “End of the World,” which debuted and peaked at No. 52 in April. It also became a top 20 hit on the Pop Airplay, Adult Pop Airplay and Adult Contemporary charts.
Taylor Swift’s chart-topping reputation rallies 78-5 with 42,000 equivalent album units earned (up 221%). It’s the album’s first week in the top 10 since the Aug. 4, 2018-dated chart (when it ranked at No. 9), the set’s highest rank since the Jan. 27, 2018, chart (when it was No. 5) and its best week by units earned since the Jan. 13, 2018, chart, when it tallied 48,000 (at No. 3). The album debuted at No. 1 on the Dec. 2, 2017-dated chart and spent four nonconsecutive weeks atop the list.
Of reputation’s 42,000 units earned in the latest tracking week, SEA units comprise 27,000 (up 125%, equaling 34.75 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs; it reenters Top Streaming Albums at No. 10), album sales comprise 15,000 (up 1,184%, it reenters Top Album Sales at No. 4) and TEA units comprise less than 500 units. The album rallies up the list following fan support of the project after Swift announced that she had acquired her Big Machine-era catalog, including reputation.
Rounding out the top 10 of the Billboard 200 are five former No. 1s: Wallen’s One Thing at a Time falls 4-6 (40,000; down 3%); Kendrick Lamar’s GNX drops 3-7 (39,000; down 7%); Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet dips 6-8 (37,000; though up 1%); PARTYNEXTDOOR and Drake’s $ome $exy $ongs 4 U descends 7-9 (34,000; down 4%); and Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos falls 8-10 (33,000; down 7%).
Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.
